As unpredictable as the CART series is nowadays, one thing
is for certain in 2002: there will be a new series champion.

Despite the absence of two-time defending series champion Gil de Ferran and
Marlboro Team Penske, for the first time since the creation of the series,
one thing that is sure to remain the same is the intense competitiveness
that the CART series presents. No other motorsports series in the world can
boast the type of wide-open action that CART has generated in the last few
seasons. On any given race day there are 10-12 drivers with a legitimate
chance of winning a race. That number may even increase this year with a
number of strong teams and a total of 20 capable drivers battling for the
coveted Vanderbilt Cup.

2002 marks the final year CART will use the turbocharged engine format,
opting for the cost-effective 3.5L N/A engine for '03 and beyond. This means
the three engine manufacturers (Ford, Honda, Toyota) will battle extra hard
to win one last manufacturers title with CART.

Toyota appears to be the strongest based on preseason testing. Cristiano da
Matta was consistently fast this winter in his Havoline Newman/Haas
Lola-Toyota. Both Target Chip Ganassi entries of Bruno Junqueira and Kenny
Brack are certain to run near the front. Many think Brack is the favorite to
win the CART title in '02. Scott Dixon and Oriol Servia are two championship
dark horses with the former PacWest team, now known as PWR Racing.

Ford has two strong teams in its fold in Team Rahal with Jimmy Vasser and
Michel Jourdain along with Player's Forsythe Racing and Patrick Carpentier
and Alex Tagliani. Former Team Rahal driver Max Papis moves over to the
Sigma Autosport team this season and hopes to move the second year program
towards its first win.

Honda loses de Ferran and Team Penske, but still has series frontrunners
Team Kool Green with a slimmer Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti. Michael
Andretti pilots a third Barry Green car for Team Motorola. Tony Kanaan is
now the lone driver for Mo Nunn Racing and is poised for what could be his
breakthrough season.

Many drivers also find themselves in a new seat for this season. Vasser
moves over to the Shell car for Team Rahal after spending last year in a
second Pat Patrick entry. How well Vasser adapts to that seat may hinge on
how well Rahal regroups after losing head engineer Don Halliday to Fernandez
Racing. Jourdain completes a brand new lineup for Team Rahal after securing
sponsorship from Gigante.

Brack moves from the Shell car to Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Now one of the
highest paid drivers in the series, it may be championship or bust for the
Swede. 2001 Indy Lights champion Townsend Bell will drive the lone Patrick
entry for this year with Visteon sponsorship. Mario Dominguez is the Mexican
driver of choice for Team Herdez, taking over for Jourdain.

Servia moves from Sigma to the second PWR seat, vacated by the retired
Mauricio Gugelmin. Finally, Papis will take Servia's position at Sigma after
losing his ride with Team Rahal despite a strong sixth place in the 2001
championship.

As CART looks to move forward under new management in '02 and put the black
eye of last season out of memory, the on-track product this season should be
as strong as ever.

While predicting a champion is as scientific as forecasting next weeks weather, we
once again polish the dust off our crystal ball to predict this years champion. The start
of the 2002 season is just a few short days away. In 7-1/2 months and 20 races later, we
will know who prevailed as the new CART Champion. Sit back and enjoy what should be the most competitive and entertaining CART
season in history (we said that the last three years as well).

Rank

Driver

Package

Odds

1

Cristiano da Matta
Brazil
Age - 25

Newman Haas Racing #6

3:2

Comments:
Cristiano shows he had the speed, winning in three times in 2001. Now
more experienced and the Toyota engine rock solid, could this be the
year Newman Haas is back on top.
Strength:
Fast, Lola and ToyotaWeakness: Lack of consistent reliablility

2

Kenny
Brack
Sweden
Age - 36

Target Chip Ganassi #12

2:1

Comments:
Kenny won the most races in 2001 with Team Rahal. He's back
with the same Lola chassis but now has Toyota who is keen on winning the
title.
Strength:
He showed speed on every type of circuit in 2001Weakness: Will the team get back to dominating ways, which it
lost in 2001?

3

Michael
Andretti
USA
Age - 39

Team Motorola #39

3:1

Comments: Still
one of the fastest drivers on the ovals, he now has both a Reynard and
Lola to choose from, CART's winningest driver's age now matches his car
number
Strength:
Outperformed both teammates last year. Will have Lola chassis and
a very hungry HondaWeakness: Not as fast as his younger days, can experience
overcome age?

4

Paul Tracy
Canada
Age 33

Team KOOL Green #26

4:1

Comments:
Still
mighty quick, and now on a fitness kick. Can he keep his brain in gear through the long grueling 20-race series
to be champion?
Strength: Like his teammate, Andretti, always goes 10/10thsWeakness: Switch to Lola mid-season. Can he bounce back
from a winless 2001?

5
Tie

Jimmy Vasser
USA
Age - 36

Team Rahal #8

5:1

Comments:
Jimmy is now in the car that won the most races in 2001, can he
continue winning ways?.
Strength:
Experience. His best ride in years. Ford Cosworth wants to
go out winningWeakness: New to Team Rahal, can he gel with them quick enough?

5 Tie

Dario Franchitti
Scotland
Age - 28

Team KOOL Green #27

5:1

Comments:
Dario and Team Kool Green seemed to lose their way in 2001. Will
married life be just what the doctor ordered for Dario?
Strength: Honda wants to go out winning. Strong on any
circuitWeakness: Switch to Lola mid-season

7

Scott
Dixon
New Zealand
Age - 21

PWR Championship Racing #18

6:1

Comments:
Proved he can win in his rookie season. This guy has star
written all over him
Strength:
Fast and not intimidated.Weakness: Can team learn new setups on Lola after using Reynard's
so long?

8

Oriol Servia
Spain
Age - 27

PWR Championship Racing #17

8:1

Comments:
Servia has the best ride of his life and we have a funny suspicion
this team is going to turn some heads.
Strength:
Fast and aggressiveWeakness: New team. Must control aggression. Full
sponsorship may not be in place.

8
Tie

Bruno
Junqueira
Brazil
Age - 26

Target / Chip Ganassi Racing #4

8:1

Comments:
Proved he can win in 2001, but was inconsistent, especially on
ovals. Now he knows all the circuits, he knows he must win in 2002
to keep his ride in 2003
Strength:
Road Courses, very hungryWeakness: He has yet to prove himself on ovals in race
conditions.

10

Alexandre
Tagliani
Canada
Age -29

Players Forsythe #33

10:1

Comments:
He's fast, and now has experience to go with it.
Strength:
He's fast and can't wait to race in MontrealWeakness: Can Reynard keep pace with Lola?

11 Tie

Townsend Bell
USA
Age - 27Rookie

Patrick Racing #20

15:1

Comments:
This guy is going to turn some heads in 2002
Strength:
Dominated Indy Lights, one cool customerWeakness: Experience, Reynard and no teammate to trade setup data

11 Tie

Christian Fittipaldi
Brazil
Age - 31

Newman/Haas Racing #11

15:1

Comments:
Brilliant
in the wet and good on road courses, can he match the speed of his
younger teammate?
Strength:
Road & Street courses, especially in the wet. Weakness: Inconsistent

13

Adrian Fernandez
Mexico
Age - 36

Fernandez Racing #51

20:1

Comments:
The Tom
Anderson run team now has a year under their belt and new engineering
talent. We expect more success in 2002.
Strength:
Fast/large ovals. The addition of Lola and Don Halliday to the
team should helpWeakness: Does team ownership distract from his driving?
New to Lola

14 Tie

Tony Kanaan
Brazil
Age - 27

Mo Nunn Racing #55

25:1

Comments:
Last year he was set back by an injury in Detroit.
Strength:
Fast and now will have Reynard and Lola to choose fromWeakness: Team still has yet to prove they can win, and now has
no teammate to trade setups

14
Tie

Patrick
Carpentier
Canada
Age - 30

Players Forsythe #32

25:1

Comments:
Proved he was still a winner in 2001, can team overcome Reynard
deficit?
Strength:
OvalsWeakness: Road courses. Reynard

16

Max Papis
Italy
Age - 32

Sigma Motorsports #22

30:1

Comments:
Papis got his first win in Miami in 2000 and backed it up with two
wins in 2001
Strength:
ExuberanceWeakness: Can he come to grips with new team and no teammate to
trade setups?

16 Tie

Michel
Jourdain Jr.
Mexico
Age - 25

Team Rahal #7

30:1

Comments:
Jourdain has the best equipment and engineer behind him he has
ever had. We expect a number of top ten finishes this year.
Showed signs of potential last year
Strength:
Hard charger, now has Team Rahal behind him.Weakness: Has yet to prove he has the fire in his belly to win.
No excuses this year

18
Tie

Shinji
Nakano
Japan
Age - 31

Fernandez Racing #52

50:1

Comments:
Was faster than his teammate at several tracks in 2001, but must
show consistency to get on the podium
Strength:
Road courses and LolaWeakness: Short ovals and consistency

18
Tie

Tora
Takagi
Japan
Age - 28

Walker Racing #5

50:1

Comments:
Showed signs of speed in 2001, but desperately needs a teammate to
trade setup data.
Strength:
Road Courses. Nakano and Tora will push each other for top
Japan honors in the Honda vs. Toyota battle.Weakness: Language barrier, and Walker Team has not
exactly been on fire in recent years

20

Mario Dominguez
Mexico
Age - 27Rookie

Herdez/
Bettenhausen Motorsports #16

100:1

Comments:
Showed signs of potential in Indy Lights, but can he adjust
quickly to Champ Cars?
Strength:
Hard charger, the Herdez team showed some real promise in 2001.Weakness: Desperately needs a teammate to share setup data

AutoRacing1 is an
independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by CART Inc., NASCAR, FIA, FedEx, Winston, or any other series sponsor. This material may not be published,
broadcast, or redistributed without permission.User agreement
& disclaimer